For a Rainy Day

10"x12" original oil

It is raining buckets today..... dark and quiet, like the atmosphere is sucking all the sounds except the gentle drips of water.  It makes me feel like crawling back in bed after having a warm cup of cocoa!  So, these flowers are very cheerful on this soggy day.  They are a commission from my friend and stellar gardener, Rebecca Greenley.  She has that magic touch that makes all her flowers stand up and show off their best sides!

Naia

10"x10"  oil

Is she beautiful or what?  She is not my biological grandchild, but she is the daughter of my "almost daughter" so that makes Naia my "almost granddaughter."  Lucky me!  I also feel lucky to get to paint her.  I did the drawing below first because I have been really enjoying the process of drawing lately and it helps to get to know the subject a little better.  I then did the painting.  Since the reference photo was black and white, I had to make up the colors.  Rather than studying a bunch of other photos of her, I decided to just let the painting tell me what colors to use.  It looked rather bland to me (except the startling yellow jumper) until I mixed a little batch of paint with Rembrandt transparent red oxide and some cad yellow and white and got the punch I needed.  I love that color!  I also added purple to her hair which I think worked well.  It is hard to tell in this photo, but the purple just kind of works with the brown.  Anyway, I have been working so hard to get ready for an upcoming show (mostly framing, etc.) that it is so fun to do a painting I am pleased with.  I really hope her mom loves it too!

Skinny Dippin'

12"x18"  oil  Commission

What are you doing on this incredibly beautiful summer day?  I have been thinking about teaching a class on painting  kids/grandkids and this painting has reminded me how much fun it is to do that.  I like the combination of soft/hard edges, loose rendering and accurate drawing.  Actually my painter friend Heather Shay is the one who reminded me how much I love drawing.  She paints, but admits that it is the drawing part that really appeals to her.  Her painting style is very precise and is much like drawing itself.  Her subject matter is infused with color and fun material so it all comes together without looking too fussy.  I am including a painting of hers below.

by Heather Shay

The Climber

9"x9" oil

This is the second go on a previous acrylic painting, interpreting it in oil.  It is for a show in which I am participating in August.  I am showing 41 paintings of children.  The show is for my mentoring group of 9 artists who are diverse but all very accomplished.  It should be a great show.

Flying Acrobat

8"x8" oil

 I have been neglecting my blog and I feel bad about this.  It is my accountability partner...my assignment.  I don't like to not get my homework done because I think all my assignments are really good for me!  Can you tell I am the zealous teacher/student?  I have been painting but also teaching, and framing (and entertaining company, etc.).  Framing is a big deal.  If you pay more than you think you should for frames you probably aren't.  It is a lot of work to make a good frame and then finish it.  I have been working on 30+ frames.  This is my drying rack for them.  There is a lot of sanding and painting and repainting and then the whole process of putting them in the frame and finishing it off nicely.  It, like everything else in my life, is a learning process.  I am getting better.  My husband and framing partner, Carl, is a huge help!  He does the initial cutting and assembly.  I do the rest.  I am getting ready for a big show in August.  I am doing all kids for this show, but I included the flying acrobat above, because it is fun!